Organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027) will be a special tournament as Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda host it together. This will be the first time three countries have hosted the competition.
Also, the tournament will run from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It will begin with the opening match on 19 June and end with the final on 17 July.
AFCON remains Africa’s biggest football competition and has produced many memorable champions over the decades. You can also explore the complete AFCON Winners list to see every nation that has lifted the trophy.
AFCON 2027 Host Countries
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be the first tournament hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The three nations won the hosting rights under the “PAMOJA” (Together) bid. The tournament will take place in June and July 2027 and will bring AFCON back to East Africa for the first time since 1976.
Kenya
Kenya will host several matches, with Nairobi serving as one of the main host cities. The country is building Talanta Sports City and upgrading Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani). It is also improving Bukhungu Stadium and several training grounds.
In addition, Kenya is expanding roads, airports and hotels to support teams, officials and fans. These projects will improve sports facilities and help the country host more international events in the future.
Tanzania
Tanzania will host matches at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The country is also building and upgrading stadiums in Arusha, Dodoma and Zanzibar.
Moreover, Tanzania is improving roads, airports and hotels before the tournament. The government also hopes AFCON 2027 will attract more visitors and promote popular tourist destinations such as Zanzibar and the Serengeti.
Uganda
Uganda is upgrading Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. The country is also building Hoima City Stadium and Akii Bua Stadium in Lira.
The government is improving roads, hotels and training facilities across the country. These projects will help Uganda host AFCON and support football after the tournament.
Why East Africa Was Selected
CAF selected Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda because the three countries worked together on one bid. They agreed to share stadiums, costs and tournament duties.
Furthermore, CAF wanted to bring a major football event to East Africa. AFCON 2027 will help grow football in the region and encourage closer cooperation between the three countries.
As a result, players will have better facilities and more opportunities to develop. Local clubs and national teams will also benefit from the new stadiums and training centres.
Expected Economic and Tourism Impact
AFCON 2027 is expected to boost the economies of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The tournament will bring more visitors, creating more business for hotels, restaurants, transport companies and local shops.
The event will also create jobs and increase tourism.
AFCON 2027 Groups
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held the AFCON 2027 qualifying draw in Cairo on 19 May 2026. The draw decided the groups for the qualification campaign. The three host nations have already qualified but will still play in the qualifiers.
How the Groups Are Drawn
CAF used the latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings to divide the 48 teams into four pots.
The draw followed these rules:
- Each group has one team from each pot.
- Teams from the same pot cannot be in the same group.
- Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were placed in fixed groups.
- Preliminary-round winners filled the last places.
As a result, every group has a balanced mix of teams.
Seeding System
CAF used the FIFA rankings to seed the teams. Higher-ranked teams went into Pot 1, while lower-ranked teams went into the other pots.
The system helps to:
- Reward strong teams.
- Balance the groups.
- Keep top teams apart.
Consequently, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria entered the draw as top seeds. Several of these nations also feature prominently among the tournament’s all-time leading scorers.
Pot Allocation
CAF divided the teams into four pots with 12 teams in each.
| Pot | Teams |
| Pot 1 | Highest-ranked teams |
| Pot 2 | Next highest-ranked teams |
| Pot 3 | Mid-ranked teams |
| Pot 4 | Lowest-ranked teams and preliminary-round winners |
Each group has:
- One Pot 1 team
- One Pot 2 team
- One Pot 3 team
- One Pot 4 team
This format keeps the groups balanced.
Group-Stage Dynamics
The qualifiers have 12 groups of four teams.
The rules are simple:
- The top two teams in most groups qualify for AFCON 2027.
- Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have already qualified as hosts.
- In the host groups, only the best non-host team qualifies.
Therefore, teams in the host groups compete for one qualification place instead of two.
Possible Group Scenarios
The draw has created several exciting groups.
Balanced Groups
Many groups have one favourite, two strong teams and one lower-ranked team. Every point will matter.
A Possible “Group of Death”
Group C looks like one of the toughest groups. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the favourites, while Gambia and Somalia will try to surprise them.
Tough Host Groups
South Africa and Guinea face a tough challenge in Group D because Kenya has already qualified. Similarly, the same format applies in Groups H and L with Uganda and Tanzania.
Chance for Smaller Teams
Finally, teams like Comoros, Botswana, Namibia and Equatorial Guinea have shown they can compete with Africa’s biggest teams. That makes the AFCON 2027 qualifiers harder to predict.
AFCON 2027 Schedule
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will run from 19 June to 17 July 2027. CAF has confirmed these dates but has not released the full fixture list. It will publish the complete schedule after the qualifiers end and the final draw takes place.
Group Stage Dates
The group stage starts on 19 June 2027. All 24 teams will play three matches in six groups.
The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the Round of 16. CAF will confirm the match dates, kick-off times and venues closer to the tournament.
Knockout Stage Timeline
After the group stage, the tournament will follow this order:
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
- Third-place play-off
- Final
CAF has not announced the dates for each knockout round. It will confirm the full fixture list after the final draw.
Final Match Date
The AFCON 2027 final will take place on 17 July 2027.
CAF has not yet announced the stadium for the final. It will confirm the venue with the official match schedule.
Break Periods Between Rounds
CAF has not confirmed the rest days between rounds. Based on recent AFCON tournaments, teams can expect:
- 1–3 days between the group stage and the Round of 16
- 2–4 days between each knockout round
- A short break before the final
The final schedule may change because of stadium plans, travel between the three host countries and broadcasting needs.
CAF will confirm all fixtures, match times, venues and rest periods closer to the start of AFCON 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AFCON 2027?
AFCON 2027 is the 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Africa’s biggest men’s international football tournament organised by CAF.
Who is hosting AFCON 2027?
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host AFCON 2027, marking the first three-nation hosting in the tournament’s history.
How many teams will play in AFCON 2027?
A total of 24 national teams will compete in AFCON 2027.
How does AFCON qualification work?
The three host nations qualify automatically. The remaining 21 teams earn their places through CAF qualification groups played between 2026 and 2027.
When will AFCON 2027 start?
AFCON 2027 is scheduled to begin on 19 June 2027 and end on 17 July 2027.
Which country has won AFCON the most?
Egypt has won AFCON a record seven times.
What is the AFCON trophy made of?
The current AFCON trophy is made of gold-plated metal with a silver base.
Is AFCON held every two years?
No. AFCON 2027 will be the last biennial edition before the tournament switches to a four-year cycle from 2028.
Conclusion
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be the first AFCON staged across three African nations and the first time the tournament returns to East Africa since 1976. Scheduled from 19 June to 17 July 2027, the competition is expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide.
Meanwhile, preparations continue across the host nations and participating teams. Fans should therefore follow official CAF announcements for the latest updates on the qualifying campaign, group-stage draw, fixtures, squads, venues and match schedules.
Although CAF has already completed the qualifying draw, teams will contest qualification matches during the FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027 before the tournament begins in East Africa.